A North Carolina teen pleads guilty to stabbing his older sister. The 17-year-old Claude Henderson II is now sentenced to prison for charges of second-degree murder.
The North Carolina teen will serve 16-25 years in the Department of Adult Corrections.
The older sister, Kayla Dezaray Hensley, was killed by his younger brother in 2017.
The death of the older sister
Last November 11, 2017, the older sister's body was found close to a dumpster in Buncombe Country. The body was near a mobile park home.
When Kayla's body was found, there were lacerations to her neck. She was believed to be killed by the perpetrator inside their family home.
Reports about the crime also disclosed that authorities recovered pocket knives and a box cutter in the Hensley's residence. These items were filed as evidence, along with a canvas belt found around the older sister's neck.
When the authorities interviewed Kayla's younger brother, he confessed that he was the one who killed his older sister.
The North Carolina teen was only fourteen years old during that time.
The charges against the North Carolina teen
After his admission of guilt to authorities, Kayla's younger brother was immediately charged with first-degree murder.
Despite this, a forensic psychiatric evaluation, which the defense initiated, questioned the North Carolina teen's intent to kill his older sister. The question was whether the younger brother has a specific goal to plot and plan before the murder. His immaturity, youth, and other diagnostic factors were also taken into account.
Because of these matters, the charge of first-degree murder was changed to second-degree murder. That is because, unlike a first-degree murder that requires a particular intent to commit a crime, second-degree murder does not need proof of intention and planning.
The slain daughter was her mother's hero.
In 2017, when the older sister was killed, her mother, Susan Maltry, shared how much she loves her 18-year-old daughter. She even said that she considers Kayla as her hero.
In the statement that Maltry shared with WLOS, she said that Kayla was sunshine to many people.
The mom also shared that her daughter has been through a lot since she was born. The 18-year-old daughter was born with CP, and Susan was initially informed that Kayla could never walk. However, Kayla was able to walk.
The older sister also had hearing problems; she was born deaf but had the chance to hear when she had her cochlear implants.
The mom said in her statement, "She was an amazing girl! There's nothing I could say to make people see how truly blessed I was to have her in my life."
